Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think The Game is a perfect example of the dangers of independent counselors.

Girl liked Brown (10/10), Pomona (10), Tufts (9), Smith (8 with legacy), Amherst (8)

About he Smith he says something like, "a whole bunch of people right now are saying, what the heck is Smith College.No offense, but it's not a well known name college."

He basically advises tufts. maybe Pomona ED1 and tufts ed2. But the signal is strong - lean into Tufts.

But applicant ranks brown and Pomona first. and he acts like Smith is a school nobody has heard of.

As a parent, if I had Smith in my back pocket as a safety and you were happy with that. I'd say go for favorite for sure.

But he maybe doesnt think Smith is a good enough school to have on his website so he pushes tufts

It’s also dumb of the parents to allow their kids’ cv and “strategy” to be discussed at this fine of detail. The Yale vs Stanford mega-sode was very identifiable. I can’t imagine the Yale AOs will be happy about it.

Where did that girl get in?

I believe he implied she will apply in fall 2025. I am hoping for the student that either the podcast host changed identifying information or it was actually from a previous cycle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think The Game is a perfect example of the dangers of independent counselors.

Girl liked Brown (10/10), Pomona (10), Tufts (9), Smith (8 with legacy), Amherst (8)

About he Smith he says something like, "a whole bunch of people right now are saying, what the heck is Smith College.No offense, but it's not a well known name college."

He basically advises tufts. maybe Pomona ED1 and tufts ed2. But the signal is strong - lean into Tufts.

But applicant ranks brown and Pomona first. and he acts like Smith is a school nobody has heard of.

As a parent, if I had Smith in my back pocket as a safety and you were happy with that. I'd say go for favorite for sure.

But he maybe doesnt think Smith is a good enough school to have on his website so he pushes tufts

It’s also dumb of the parents to allow their kids’ cv and “strategy” to be discussed at this fine of detail. The Yale vs Stanford mega-sode was very identifiable. I can’t imagine the Yale AOs will be happy about it.

Where did that girl get in?

Anonymous wrote:I think The Game is a perfect example of the dangers of independent counselors.

Girl liked Brown (10/10), Pomona (10), Tufts (9), Smith (8 with legacy), Amherst (8)

About he Smith he says something like, "a whole bunch of people right now are saying, what the heck is Smith College.No offense, but it's not a well known name college."

He basically advises tufts. maybe Pomona ED1 and tufts ed2. But the signal is strong - lean into Tufts.

But applicant ranks brown and Pomona first. and he acts like Smith is a school nobody has heard of.

As a parent, if I had Smith in my back pocket as a safety and you were happy with that. I'd say go for favorite for sure.

But he maybe doesnt think Smith is a good enough school to have on his website so he pushes tufts

It’s also dumb of the parents to allow their kids’ cv and “strategy” to be discussed at this fine of detail. The Yale vs Stanford mega-sode was very identifiable. I can’t imagine the Yale AOs will be happy about it.

Anyone look at the 3 “pretend” model Common App applicants for the YCK AO Roundtable? You can vote on applicants….

“Now this last Thursday, August 21st, five of our parents who are regular Your College Bound Kid listeners and three admission officers, Kate Strickland from the University of Colorado, Grace Robertson-Lloyd from Grinnell College, and our own Hillary Dickman from Colorado College, they discussed and debated three students, Alana Anderson, Alan Landon, and Layla Tufte. Now these three students are applying to a fictitious college named Cascadia College. And the admissions committee, which is comprised of our five parents and the three admissions professionals, they can only admit one, deny one, and wait list one.

Now the real reason I'm excited about this series is that we have made the admissions files available for you to read at the same place. Go to the resources tab, and you'll see YCBK case studies. Now, when you go there, you're going to click and you're going to come into a Google form that says case studies link.

And in the link, you're going to see a Google link. So you got to click that Google link. That's going to take you out of the form.

But you're going to see everything very much simulating like what an Admission[…]”

From Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews: Should My Student Apply Early Decision or Is This Not Very Wise, Aug 24, 2025

I just dont know why you'd push Tufts over Smith. They didnt even get to tour Tufts!

The kid gets into Smith RD, agree.

This is the best situation imo. You get to say to your kid, shopt your shot! ALWAYS go for your dream. And if it doesnt work out, that's fine. Smith will be there for you.

I can see pondering the decision of which to ED to Pomona vs Brown. But Tufts? why? Then in RD, apply widely. You get two bites at several apples. You get to look at even more schools. And Smith is still there for you!

Honestly, the idea that people haven't heard of Smith and have heard of pomona? those are the same people.. who cares.

IECs like to say 100% got into their ED. They dont like to say the advised the kids to aim lower during ED round.

Anonymous wrote:I think The Game is a perfect example of the dangers of independent counselors.

Girl liked Brown (10/10), Pomona (10), Tufts (9), Smith (8 with legacy), Amherst (8)

About he Smith he says something like, "a whole bunch of people right now are saying, what the heck is Smith College.No offense, but it's not a well known name college."

He basically advises tufts. maybe Pomona ED1 and tufts ed2. But the signal is strong - lean into Tufts.

But applicant ranks brown and Pomona first. and he acts like Smith is a school nobody has heard of.

As a parent, if I had Smith in my back pocket as a safety and you were happy with that. I'd say go for favorite for sure.

But he maybe doesnt think Smith is a good enough school to have on his website so he pushes tufts

I listened to it too.

That kid gets into Smith in RD; no need to burn the early card since not top choice.

The problem with Pomona ED is the how many FGLI/pell grant they take. It’s a risk. Equally tough is being female at brown without a hook in ED.

At our private, the only ED admits to Brown are hooked. Everyone else deferred and rejected. Maybe she goes for Pomona ED, assumes deferral and shoots for the moon in RD? I mean that might work now with the crazy WLs?

I would have frankly advised looking at a few other schools. Seems like a big gap btw Brown and Pomona?

I think The Game is a perfect example of the dangers of independent counselors.

Girl liked Brown (10/10), Pomona (10), Tufts (9), Smith (8 with legacy), Amherst (8)

About he Smith he says something like, "a whole bunch of people right now are saying, what the heck is Smith College.No offense, but it's not a well known name college."

He basically advises tufts. maybe Pomona ED1 and tufts ed2. But the signal is strong - lean into Tufts.

But applicant ranks brown and Pomona first. and he acts like Smith is a school nobody has heard of.

As a parent, if I had Smith in my back pocket as a safety and you were happy with that. I'd say go for favorite for sure.

But he maybe doesnt think Smith is a good enough school to have on his website so he pushes tufts

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YCKB also covered UMich ED. Now that's what 4 publics with EDs? There will no doubt be changes to who applies this upcoming cycle and to where they apply. Less international student applying. More colleges want full pay students. Few more universities going back to test required. More AI essays. More AI essay readings. More AI writing acceptance and rejections. Universities consolidating departments and majors or eliminating them, for example Indiana University etc etc...There will be changes but no one podcast covers only about the recent and anticipated changes.

On a FB group im in, a former AO speculated that Michigan ED admit rate could hover around 30%. If its a top option, kids should apply ED.

Admission rate is directly related to the number of applicants. No one has any idea how many people will apply to Michigan ED, so how can a former AO speculate what the admit rate will be? This is just silly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YCKB also covered UMich ED. Now that's what 4 publics with EDs? There will no doubt be changes to who applies this upcoming cycle and to where they apply. Less international student applying. More colleges want full pay students. Few more universities going back to test required. More AI essays. More AI essay readings. More AI writing acceptance and rejections. Universities consolidating departments and majors or eliminating them, for example Indiana University etc etc...There will be changes but no one podcast covers only about the recent and anticipated changes.

On a FB group im in, a former AO speculated that Michigan ED admit rate could hover around 30%. If its a top option, kids should apply ED.

Oh, Mich
You think you're all that

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YCKB also covered UMich ED. Now that's what 4 publics with EDs? There will no doubt be changes to who applies this upcoming cycle and to where they apply. Less international student applying. More colleges want full pay students. Few more universities going back to test required. More AI essays. More AI essay readings. More AI writing acceptance and rejections. Universities consolidating departments and majors or eliminating them, for example Indiana University etc etc...There will be changes but no one podcast covers only about the recent and anticipated changes.

On a FB group im in, a former AO speculated that Michigan ED admit rate could hover around 30%. If its a top option, kids should apply ED.

For OOS ED applicants, too?

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Anonymous wrote:I kinda adore YCBK. It comes out enough and is so bonkers long that I can skip a ton of it (I completely skip some cohosts) and still get a lot out of it.

He did an episode last year with Vince that was a post mortem on the admissions cycle that I enjoyed so much I had my kid listen to it. It really helped to show him that, beyond what he could do for his own application, there were forces outside his control. You gotta do your best and then, let the chips just fall. It's not personal. It's a complicate and evolving landscape. I think they're doing that again.

PS I worry Mark has given up on his weight loss, which is too bad. It was another thing I skipped over, but I like Mark and wish him well. Take the GLP1s, Mark!

I want Mark to take GLP1s as well. Dedicated listener that has a lot of affection for Mark.

I haven't been listening as regularly as I have in the past, but I was wondering how his weight loss was going, too. I hope he takes the GLP1s, too. He seems like such a good guy. I don't think the primary reason he does the podcast is to market his business. He spends an incredible amount of time on these podcasts. It's obvious that it is his passion, and he is happy to help people. I don't know how he hasn't burnt out.

Former client here and be aware he's a podcaster not an effective counselor. He was unprofessional, didn't remember what was covered in the last meeting, and my kid had to schedule meetings because Mark is too busy to keep up with clients. When he says he's not tech savvy on the podcast you should believe him. More than once someone else would show up in the Zoom because he doesn't know how to use a waiting room. It's not amusing when you pay for his time. Love the podcast but the man is a disappointment.

+1

I had similar experiences as a client. I would avoid.

Are you both referring to Mark from YCBK or the guy from The Game?

Omg - the dude from The Game with the vocal fry - dropped a new episode….its been 6 months.

Has anyone listened to it?

New episode tearing apart Yale and Stanford apps dropped.

I can’t find a transcript yet? Anyone have a link

Why? You don’t want to listen to the 4 hour and 15 minute episode? Lol!

I thought you were joking. What fresh hell is this?

If he wasn’t such a word salad, he could cut it to 1 hour.

He loves to hear himself talk. The arrogance is a little barfy. A shame because some of his advice is good. (Though some is just fear mongering to get people to sign up).

OMG he has another 3hr one.
Just saw it on my apple podcasts: "App Deep Dive: From Hook to ED Strategy" (July 24) - The Game

He talks about fast food jobs for private school kids - good thing to fight perception of privilege and possibly, tie to major.

Anonymous wrote:YCKB also covered UMich ED. Now that's what 4 publics with EDs? There will no doubt be changes to who applies this upcoming cycle and to where they apply. Less international student applying. More colleges want full pay students. Few more universities going back to test required. More AI essays. More AI essay readings. More AI writing acceptance and rejections. Universities consolidating departments and majors or eliminating them, for example Indiana University etc etc...There will be changes but no one podcast covers only about the recent and anticipated changes.

On a FB group im in, a former AO speculated that Michigan ED admit rate could hover around 30%. If its a top option, kids should apply ED.

YCKB also covered UMich ED. Now that's what 4 publics with EDs? There will no doubt be changes to who applies this upcoming cycle and to where they apply. Less international student applying. More colleges want full pay students. Few more universities going back to test required. More AI essays. More AI essay readings. More AI writing acceptance and rejections. Universities consolidating departments and majors or eliminating them, for example Indiana University etc etc...There will be changes but no one podcast covers only about the recent and anticipated changes.

Anonymous wrote:Are there any new ones worth listening to covering issues and info for 25-26 college applying?

YCBK (no I am not a booster) did a recent one on the new essay in the Common App (Challenges and Circumstances - 250 word). That's new for this cycle.

Anonymous wrote:Are there any new ones worth listening to covering issues and info for 25-26 college applying?

There aren't any "new" issues yet, as far as I'm aware (just schools looking for more full-pay students, given budgetary issues)?
I'd look at the historical podcasts for Yale and Admissions Beat (Dartmouth AO) - those were the most helpful to me last cycle, with understanding the process.